The Modern Lesbian

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This series of portraits was inspired by Manchester’s gay scene. I wanted to document lesbian style and influence as a way of telling the story of the city’s radical history from a female perspective. 30 women told me their stories of life in Manchester, from octogenarian Joyce Edwards, who opened the city’s first lesbian bar in the 1970s, to Carol Ainscow, whose financial investment in the gay village was the catalyst for the city’s regeneration as a whole to DJs, activists and politicians who have kept the city’s gay scene at the forefront of progressive acceptance for over 40 years. These are my own favourite shots from the project. For full biographies and audio interviews please visit www.themodernlesbian.co.uk

An extension of the project was commissioned by Birmingham’s Shout Festival in 2011.

Funded by Manchester Pride and Arts Council England. Produced by Andy Brydon at www.curatedplace.com